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Thursday, November 09, 2006

Tom Sanford's Serious Artist Barometer

TomSanfordlikes Artnet's updated monthly list of the 300 most popular artists because of it's democraticism, claiming it is compiled based on the number of searches for particular artists, and that "they are there for some other reason than how much money they stand to make for Steve Cohen or Charles Saatchi".But I'm pretty sure that the only artists listed on Artnet, and reflected in the "popular search" thing, are names that have been provided by galleries that advertise on Artnet, or have an auction record.

ME:you think? i didn't think many artists get listed on artnet that are not represented by galleries that pay to be listed, or advertise, on artnet.

To which Tom replies -

TOMPAC: well, maybe you could accuse me of being too snobby, turning my nose up at weekend artist and those who doodle while on the phone, but for practicality's sake I am willing to say that being on artnet is a useful bar for whether or not one is a serious/professional artist. i am sure that there are plenty exceptions...

WOW.

Tom, I could also accuse you of being a shallow, naive, pompous ass.. but.. I think maybe that was just a slip?

Some of Tom's own favorite artists are not listed on Artnet... Richard Onyango, someone whom Tom himself has described as "an internationally recognized artist since the early 90s", is listed on Artnet for only a single auction sale. Very good artist friends (i like them too)Eric Doeringerand Bryan Zanisnik... not listed.

i certainly realize that my artnet metric is not perfect, but it is far more broad that the list of 50 or so artist that the powerful institutions and currators et al. (who run shit) believe to be relavent. as i said there certainly are exception, artist who work outside the conventional art gallery system because of the nature of their work etc. i simply would like to suggest the artnet list because it is a better alternative to the power 100 list, and for the most part i believe the 300 artist list to be the most objective measure of which artists mean something to the culture at large.

well I went to the link on artnet, and lo and behold Mr.Sanford is not listed there, as are any of the other artist from Koenig's gallery. I personaly don't give a hoot, but I do think it's interesting given the drift of the thread.